The much revered It has finally hit cinemas and you’re guaranteed to be in for a scare. It has been 27 years since director Tommy Lee Wallace’s mini-series take on Stephen King’s classic horror novel It, Andrés Muschietti has done an extraordinary job resurrecting this fan-favourite. Muschietti is an Argentinian director who rose to prominence for his debut film Mama in 2013, a supernatural horror, and once again he doesn’t disappoint.
It is celebrated by fans as King’s most terrifying work. The monster of the tale is Pennywise, a clown who can transform into certain illusions to lure in unsuspecting victims. The classic creepy clown, however, does not do Pennywise justice. It is of course creepy, but also manipulative, child-like, and menacing. The shape-shifting monster’s preference for taking the clown’s shape goes hand in hand with the manifestation of his victims’ worst nightmares. Bill Skarsgård manages to depict this complicated persona in such a gripping manner that every time Pennywise shows its face you can’t help but keep your eyes glued to the screen with fear and amazement.
Set in the small American town of Derry, Maine, in the 1980s, the residents are shaken by a surge in disappearances, especially those of children. It is a group of kids, the self-proclaimed “Losers’ Club”, who discover that Pennywise is the culprit and set out to defeat it, while simultaneously trying to avoid sadistic bullies and over-protective parents. It is a similar group to the one that stole our hearts in the TV series Stranger Things with Finn Wolfhard’s performance shining through, who plays a notorious chatterbox, bringing in hilarious lines even during the most gripping and tense scenes.
It’s score is horrifyingly spectacular. Composed by Benjamin Wallfisch, the music perfectly complements the most fear-filled scenes, including circus themes and a music-box melody that culminates in a distorted and dark version of itself.
All in all, It is a great horror film with a strong plot and fantastic characters. However, if you’re hoping for non-stop heart-pounding fear you may be left disappointed. The fear factor dwindles as the film progresses, reflecting the growing bravery of the “Losers’ Club”. Whether or not it will give you a perpetual fear of clowns, It is definitely worth a trip to the big screen.
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